Croatian Football Federation president Vlatko Markovic sparked an outcry from LGBT groups with his statement that gay players would not be allowed on the highly ranked national team.

According to the Croatian Times, Markovic told the Croatian national daily Vecernji List, “While I'm a president of the Croatian Football Federation, there will be no homosexuals playing in the national team.”

Markovic also denied ever meeting a gay football player, saying, "Luckily, only normal people play football."

LGBT groups have said they will sue Markovic for discrimination and report him to the Union of European Football Associations, the Croatian Times reports.